RALEIGH, N.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The New Year means newly-elected state leaders have officially taken office.
During his swearing-in ceremony in Raleigh on Wednesday morning, Governor Josh Stein said that he would reject politics of division and that North Carolina will go further when the state works together.
Stein took his oath of office in the old Senate Chamber in the State Capitol with his parents, wife, and children in attendance.
Before the ceremony began, Roy Cooper gave his blessing to his former employee, Stein, who had worked as a deputy AG under Cooper for seven years.
“I know that you care deeply about the people of this state and that your passion throughout your career has been to make their lives better,” said Cooper.
In his own remarks, Stein made time to thank family, staff, Cooper, and the people of North Carolina. Stein shared a message that resembled what he said while on the campaign trail, that the time is now to build a safer, stronger North Carolina.
“Where our economy continues to grow and works for more people. Where our public schools are excellent and our teachers are well paid. Where our neighborhoods are safe and our personal freedoms are protected and of course we must act with urgency to help the people of Western North Carolina recover from Hurricane Helene,” said Stein.
Three hours away, Stein’s successor, Attorney General Jeff Jackson was sworn into his new role during a private ceremony in Charlotte.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Mo Green took his oath in Jamestown.
“Part of what I’ll be doing is spending a lot of time with the General Assembly, particularly the Republicans, to find where those common grounds can be, I believe there are a lot of folks that do believe in public education,” he told reporters.
New state lawmakers will have their first day of work next week on January 8.
